Weeks like that are very emotionally tiring. Do you have a video camera or does your still camera have video option? Perhaps you could record some of the behaviour to show as "evidence". It really annoys me when professionals have to make a diagnosis based on an hour of time, and usually the kids know to be "on" and behave their best just to complicate things. Video though, is hard to deny. I know they weren't sure with my DD either until I showed them a video of her melting down and lining things up. They suddenly went from unsure to "oh yeah, that's SO autistic!"
I did something horrible when it was time for M's ADOS assessment... I gave her 100mls of organic apple juice. From doing elimination diets and detoxing and things like that, we found that apple juice.... no matter if I made it at home or bought the more preserved juice out there, but any apple juice took her back a few steps... she wouldn't be able to communicate very well, and was 100 times more likely to have a meltdown.
Now, I knew from experience that it exacerbated her behavior, or exaggerated it I guess... so I thought I would do it...
I felt bad afterwards, I mean like I was making things out worse than they were, but I guess I'm glad I did because we had some awful times after the diagnosis without apple juice.
I stopped doing the things that helped DS1 cope a few days before the assessment, that way on assessment day he was him. He didn't have a huge meltdown, but did have a series of minor ones, he also displayed a heap of the traits too. Our assessment was over about 4 hours, DS1 was not compliant and was difficult to engage.
Need some help (sorry for no personals) DS1 loves to smell things, no biggie.... except that he likes to smell bums. He pulls down pants and puts his face right in to peoples bums and also spreads cheeks to smell too. How can I stop that? It's really embarrassing, he's done it a few times to me in the supermarket etc!
First, I would write a social story about how that wasn't appropriate and that people wont like it. Then I would offer an on-tap alternative. My DD keeps a strawberry chapstick in her pocket that she can get out and sniff when she wants a fix, but your DS might need something a little stronger. Perhaps a tea tree oil one from the health food shop??? Linseed or star anise have very strong smells too, perhaps you could make up a water spray infused with those (like the little ones you can get to travel) that he can spray to get the smell.
Weeks like that are very emotionally tiring. Do you have a video camera or does your still camera have video option? Perhaps you could record some of the behaviour to show as "evidence". It really annoys me when professionals have to make a diagnosis based on an hour of time, and usually the kids know to be "on" and behave their best just to complicate things. Video though, is hard to deny. I know they weren't sure with my DD either until I showed them a video of her melting down and lining things up. They suddenly went from unsure to "oh yeah, that's SO autistic!"
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